Impact of drug formulation and free platinum/cisplatin ratio on hypersensitivity reactions to cisplatin: formulation matters.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Use of cisplatin can induce type I hypersensitivity reactions that may also be linked to the quality of the drug utilized. We observed cases of hypersensitivity that appeared to be associated with the brand of cisplatin used. The aim of this study was to compare two different brands of cisplatin in relation to type I hypersensitivity reactions. METHODS: Brand A was used in a tertiary care teaching hospital until 2012, and use of brand B started from January 2013, when the first hypersensitivity cases were observed. Patients were categorized based on symptom. Cisplatin of both brands was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-(+)-MS) and characterized according to US Pharmacopeia. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There were no cases of hypersensitivity associated with the use of cisplatin brand A, whereas four of 127 outpatients that used cisplatin brand B were affected. The two brands were in accordance with the US Pharmacopeia parameters, and there was no significant difference in the total platinum levels between the two brands when analysed by HPLC. However, high-resolution ESI-(+)-MS analyses show that brand B contains approximately 2.7 times more hydrolysed cisplatin than brand A. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The increase in the hydrolysed form of cisplatin found in brand B may be the cause of the hypersensitivity reaction observed in a subset of patients. We present the first study of the quality of drugs by high-resolution ESI-(+)-MS. Drug regulatory agencies and manufacturers should consider including measurement of hydrolysed cisplatin as a quality criterion for cisplatin formulations.

Oxidative stress and susceptibility to mitochondrial permeability transition precedes the onset of diabetes in autoimmune non-obese diabetic mice.

Beta cell destruction in type 1 diabetes (TID) is associated with cellular oxidative stress and mitochondrial pathway of cell death. The aim of this study was to determine whether oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are present in T1D model (non-obese diabetic mouse, NOD) and if they are related to the stages of disease development. NOD mice were studied at three stages: non-diabetic, pre-diabetic, and diabetic and compared with age-matched Balb/c mice. Mitochondria respiration rates measured at phosphorylating and resting states in liver and soleus biopsies and in isolated liver mitochondria were similar in NOD and Balb/c mice at the three disease stages. However, NOD liver mitochondria were more susceptible to calcium-induced mitochondrial permeability transition as determined by cyclosporine-A-sensitive swelling and by decreased calcium retention capacity in all three stages of diabetes development. Mitochondria H2O2 production rate was higher in non-diabetic, but unaltered in pre-diabetic and diabetic NOD mice. The global cell reactive oxygen species (ROS), but not specific mitochondria ROS production, was significantly increased in NOD lymphomononuclear and stem cells in all disease stages. In addition, marked elevated rates of 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (H2DCF) oxidation were observed in pancreatic islets from non-diabetic NOD mice. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) and lipidomic approach, we identified oxidized lipid markers in NOD liver mitochondria for each disease stage, most of them being derivatives of diacylglycerols and phospholipids. These results suggest that the cellular oxidative stress precedes the establishment of diabetes and may be the cause of mitochondrial dysfunction that is involved in beta cell death.

Direct analysis of lipsticks by Sorptive tape-like extraction laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to create and establish a simple and rapid method for lipid evaluation in daily-use female products, namely lipsticks. METHODOLOGY: This approach uses STE-LDI-MSI for fast fingerprinting of complex lipids, such as triacylglycerols, phosphoglycerols and simpler structures as free fatty acids. RESULTS: This work has focused on lipsticks of several brands globally marketed. With no sample preparation, it has demonstrated to readily identify compounds of interest by integrating both full scan and MS/MS data. CONCLUSION: A novel and rapid technique for lipid evaluation in lipsticks is presented.

Central nervous system involvement in dengue: a study in fatal cases from a dengue endemic area.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the frequency of CNS infection by dengue virus (DENV) in individuals with fatal outcomes. METHODS: Samples of 150 individuals suspect of an infection disease and with fatal outcomes were investigated for evidence of the presence of DENV. The sampling was made up of 150 CSF, 120 tissue samples, and 109 blood specimens. The tests used were viral isolation, reverse transcriptase PCR, immunohistochemistry, nonstructural 1 antigen, and immunoglobulin M detection. RESULTS: Out of 150 studied patients, 84 were dengue positive. Evidence of the presence of DENV was found in 41 CSF, showing the following neurologic diagnosis: 46.3% encephalitis, 34.1% meningoencephalitis, and 19.5% meningitis, giving a frequency of 48.8% of the 84 dengue-positive cases. The major clinical manifestations observed on these individuals were fever, headache, mental irritability, breathless, vomiting, muscle pain, tiredness, abdominal pain, somnolence, restlessness, dizziness, cough, seizure, coma, and neck stiffness. CONCLUSION: Clinical manifestations and laboratory-positive results in CSF that may indicate the presence of DENV led to consider the invasion of CNS by DENV in these fatal cases studied, and showed that neurologic pathology was an important fatal complication in dengue cases.

Plasmodium berghei: cerebral malaria in CBA mice is not clearly related to plasma TNF levels or intensity of histopathological changes.

Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in CBA/J mice leads to the development of cerebral malaria (CM) that kills 80-90% of the animals in 6-9 days. This model has been used to study the pathogenesis of CM, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Plasmodium falciparum-infected individuals. The role of cytokines in the induction of CM in the murine model has been well documented, but most studies have been restricted to the peak of neurological manifestations. Here we used a sequential approach to compare mice that developed CM with those that developed no cerebral pathology. Animals were examined for systemic histopathological changes and plasma Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF) levels. The objectives were (a) to further determine the importance of factors commonly associated with murine CM-such as elevated levels of TNF and the presence of hemorrhage and vascular plugging-by comparing mice at different stages of infection and/or with different outcomes following infection and (b) to examine the importance of systemic changes-course of parasitemia and histopathological alterations in brain, liver, and lungs-in the development of CM. The data suggest that (a) the clinical manifestation of CM appears to be associated with a wave of merozoite release on days 6-7, (b) murine CM does not present reliable histopathological indicators, (c) there is no topographic association between the occurrence of intravascular plugging and the hemorrhagic foci, (d) monocyte-monocyte and monocyte-endothelial cell adherence were the most expressive histopathological events and were not restricted to brain vessels, (e) blood levels of TNF are not indicative of the local tissue reaction, (f) adhesiveness of monocyte/endothelial cells fluctuate during infection and is dissociated from the lymphocyte homing to the liver, and (g) pulmonary megakaryocytosis (megakaryopoiesis?) is a late event in the lungs.

Trypanosoma cruzi: compromise of reproductive system in acute murine infection.

Infection of isolated organs of the reproductive system by Trypanosoma cruzi has been described since Chagas' disease was first studied. A detailed histopathological analysis of mice acutely infected with T. cruzi CL strain showed colonization of male (preputial glands and skin, penis, testicular albuginea, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, coagulative, bulbo urethral and urethral glands) and female (vagina, uterus, oviduct, ovary, mesovary, clitoris and mammary glands) structures of the reproductive system. The results presented herein demonstrated invasion of epithelial cells, pronounced colonization of the epididymis and male genital adnexa, but absence of parasitism in penile corpora cavernosa.

Effects of schistosomal mansoni infection on Calomys callosus coelom-associated lymphomyeloid tissue (milky spots).

Calomys callosus Rengger, 1830 (Rodentia: Cricetidae) is a mouse-like South American wild rodent, which is permissive to Schistosoma mansoni infection. In this paper we studied the effect of schistosomal infection in C. callosus mesenteric and omental milky spots (MS), subsidiary foci of coelom-associated lymphomyeloid tissue (CALT), during the acute, transitional (acute to chronic), and chronic phases of the infection. MS were morphologically analyzed by histological methods, using brightfield and confocal laser scanning microscopies. The MS of infected animals were mainly of lymphomyelocytic (42 to 90 days) and lymphoplasmacytic (160 days of infection) types and showed frequent presence of lymphoid follicles with germinal centers, plasmacytogenesis and plasmacytosis, mastocytosis, megakaryopoiesis, erythropoiesis and less pronounced eosinopoiesis. These results indicate that MS are a preferential site of germinal-center-dependent and independent plasmacytogenesis, and a bone marrow-like organ, committed with various cellular lineages. The consequence of C. callosus MS reactivity for schistosomal infection is still unknown and is under investigation.

Trypanosoma cruzi: paninfectivity of CL strain during murine acute infection.

A systematic study of the distribution of intracellular parasites in the organs and tissues of mice acutely infected (15 days) with the CL strain of Trypanosoma cruzi was performed. Almost all tissues and organs were parasitized with different intensities, including several epithelial cell types. In addition to striated, cardiac, and smooth muscles a very high parasitism of fat cells, pancreas, and genital adnexa was observed. A smaller number of parasites was found in all other structures studied except in highly vascularized structures such as in the penile corpora cavernosa, pulmonary and renal parenchyma, islets of Langerhans, hepatic sinusoids, and in atrial endothelium. This paper also shows, for the first time in the literature, the parasitism of milky spots, cornea epithelium, cornea stroma, retroorbital fibroblasts, seminal vesicles, and coagulative, Cowper's, urethral, preputial, sebaceous anal, and clitoris glands. The results indicated that CL strain is highly invasive, being able to infect cells derived from the three embryonic layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm), suggesting that the paninfectivity may influence the outcome of immunological and pathological events.

Coelom-associated lymphomyeloid tissue (milky spots): site of lymphoid and myelomonocytic cell generation.

Pleural and peritoneal milky spots (MS) are small morphofunctional structures representing subsidiary foci of coelom-associated lymphomyeloid tissue (CALT). In this paper we studied the cellular composition of CALT in normal and Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. In the healthy mouse, CALT is mainly composed of IgM (+) B cells and presents lower numbers of CD23 and CD45R (B220) B2 lymphocytes. When activated by the infection, it may show pronounced lymphocytosis, plasmocytogenesis (IgM > IgG > IgA > IgG2a > IgG1) and myelomonocytosis. The lymphocytes were mainly of the B1 type (double positive CD5/IgM), with smaller number of T cells (TCR alpha beta (+), TCR gamma delta (+), CD3 (+) and CD5 (+)) and conventional B2 cells (B220 (+), CD23 (+)). The myeloid compartment was composed of immature and mature cells of monocyte/macrophage, eosinophil, neutrophil and megakaryocytic lineages, especially in the omental milky spots. CALT is also a favorable microenvironment for LFA-1 (+) mast cells. Thus, CALT appears to be a mixed lymphoid organ, with secondary and/or primary lymphoid organ functions, being an important site of B1 cell generation, plasma cell maturation and extramedullar hematopoiesis. CALT operates as an interface between blood and lymphatic circulation and coelomic cavities, because locally or externally produced cells have easy and ready access to the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Furthermore, MS cells can escape into blood and lymphatic vessels, providing lymphocytes to other lymphoid organs and to the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

Coelom-associated lymphomyeloid tissue (milky spots): site of lymphoid and myelomonocytic cell generation

Pleural and peritoneal milky spots (MS) are small morphofunctional structures representing subsidiary foci of coelom-associated lymphomyeloid tissue (CALT). In this paper we studied the cellular composition of CALT in normal and Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. In the healthy mouse, CALT is mainly composed of IgM (+) B cells and presents lower numbers of CD23 and CD45R (B220) B2 lymphocytes. When activated by the infection, it may show pronounced lymphocytosis, plasmocytogenesis (IgM >IgG>IgA>IgG2a>IgG1) and myelomonocytosis. The lymphocytes were mainly of the B1 type (double positive CD5/IgM), with smaller number of T cells (TCR alpha beta (+), TCR gamma delta (+), CD3 (+) and CD5 (+)) and conventional B2 cells (B220 (+), CD23 (+)). The myeloid compartment was composed of immature and mature cells of monocyte/macrophage, eosinophil, neutrophil and megakaryocytic lineages, especially in the omental milky spots. CALT is also a favorable microenvironment for LFA-1 (+) mast cells. Thus, CALT appears to be a mixed lymphoid organ, with secondary and/or primary lymphoid organ functions, being an important site of B1 cell generation, plasma cell maturation and extramedullar hematopoiesis. CALT operates as an interface between blood and lymphatic circulation and coelomic cavities, because locally or externally produced cells have easy and ready access to the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Furthermore, MS cells can escape into blood and lymphatic vessels, providing lymphocytes to other lymphoid organs and to the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis in murine schistosomiasis mansoni

During Schistosoma mansoni infection, there is morphological evidence of involvement of various hematopoietic growth factors, which cause eosinophil, neutrophil, megakaryocytic and erythroid extramedullary foci in the liver, lymph nodes and omental and mesenteric milky spots. While the eosinophil metaplasia in the periphery of hepatic granulomas roughly reproduced the intensity of the medullary eosinopoiesis, the neutrophil metaplasia, on the contrary, was more intense during the period of neutrophil depression in the bone marrow. This fact suggests that extramedullary hematopoietic foci are locally regulated, and amplify and/or compensate the systemic hematopoietic response during the infection.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis in murine schistosomiasis mansoni.

During Schistosoma mansoni infection, there is morphological evidence of involvement of various hematopoietic growth factors, which cause eosinophil, neutrophil, megakaryocytic and erythroid extramedullary foci in the liver, lymph nodes and omental and mesenteric milky spots. While the eosinophil metaplasia in the periphery of hepatic granulomas roughly reproduced the intensity of the medullary eosinopoiesis, the neutrophil metaplasia, on the contrary, was more intense during the period of neutrophil depression in the bone marrow. This fact suggests that extramedullary hematopoietic foci are locally regulated, and amplify and/or compensate the systemic hematopoietic response during the infection.

Alterations in the levels and lipid composition of plasma lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL and HDL) in Brazilian patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni.

1. The plasma concentrations of low- and high-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL) were significantly reduced in Brazilian patients with compensated hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni (SM) when compared with healthy individuals, but very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels were unchanged. 2. All three classes of lipoproteins isolated from SM plasma had an increased content of triacylglycerol and unesterified cholesterol and decreased cholesteryl ester and phospholipid. 3. The individual phospholipid composition of patient VLDL, LDL, HDL was also altered; the amount of phosphatidylcholine was increased and that of lysophosphatidylcholine decreased. 4. The saturated and monounsaturated fatty acyl content of cholesteryl esters in patient lipoproteins was also significantly increased, and diunsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acyl content was decreased. 5. When isolated lipoproteins were examined as negatively stained preparations by electron microscopy, the morphology of SM patient LDL was normal but the HDL fraction was abnormal and showed marked heterogeneity of size with the presence of occasional discoidal particles which resembled "nascent" HDL.

Milky spots reaction to schistosomal mansoni infection.

Milky spots (MS), considered by the authors as a Coelomatic Lympho-myelopoietic Organ (CLMO), present a strong reactivity during experimental schistosomal mansoni infection, characterized by an increase of lymphocytes, macrophages, plasmocytes, mast cells, neutrophils and expression of eosinophil metaplasia. Intraperitoneal injection of purified Schistosoma mansoni (Sm) eggs provoked a rise in the number and size of MS, which developed the sessile marginal and pedunculated types. The authors conclude that egg antigens are, at least partially, responsible for MS reactivity during Sm infection.

Influence of hypoxanthine and other purines on the lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase reaction in the plasma of rat and other species.

1. Esterification of radiolabelled cholesterol in the plasma of rat, mouse, pig, ox and, to a lesser extent, guinea pig was partially inhibited by hypoxanthine, xanthine and guanine; esterification in human plasma and in plasma from 12 other vertebrate species was unaffected by purines. 2. Esterification of endogenous cholesterol and the formation of lysolecithin in rat plasma were decreased in the presence of purines indicating that it was the lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) reaction that was inhibited rather than the isotopic equilibration of labelled cholesterol with the endogenous substrate lipoproteins. 3. Maximum inhibition of the LCAT reaction in rat plasma occurred at 1.4 mM hypoxanthine or xanthine; inhibition was not dependent upon the concentration of LCAT or plasma lipoproteins but increased with the amount of lipoprotein depleted rat plasma (LDRP) present in the incubation mixture. 4. Partial inhibition of the LCAT reaction in rat or mouse plasma by purines had no significant effect on the fatty acyl composition of the cholesteryl esters (CE) formed by LCAT. 5. In the presence of heated rat plasma, LDRP or, to a lesser extent, rat high density lipoproteins (HDL) prepared from heated plasma, the LCAT reaction in human plasma was inhibited by hypoxanthine. 6. Rat HDL and LDRP prepared from plasma pre-incubated at 37 degrees C for 4 hr before heating increased and decreased, respectively, the inhibitory effect of hypoxanthine on human plasma LCAT compared with HDL and LDRP prepared from unincubated rat plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Milky spots reactions to schistosomal mansoni infection

Milky spots (MS), considered by the authors as a Coelomatic Lympho-myelopoietic Organ (CLMO), present a strong reactivity during experimental schistosomal mansoni infection, characterized by an increase of lymphocytes, macrophages, plasmocytes, mast cells, neutrophils and expression of eosinophil metaplasia. Intraperitoneal injection of purified Schistosoma mansoni (Sm) eggs provoked a rise in the number and size of MS, which developed the sessile marginal and pedunculated types. The authors conclude that egg antigens are, at least partially, responsible for MS reactivity during Sm infection

Alterations in the levels and lipid composition of plasma lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL and HDL) in Brazilian patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni

1. The plasma concentrations of low- and high-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL) were significantly reduced in Brazilian patients with compensated hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni (SM) when compared with healthy individuals, but very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels were unchanged. 2. All three classes of lipoproteins isolated from SM plasma had an increased content of triacylglycerol and unesterified cholesterol and decreased cholesteryl ester and phospholipid. 3. The individual phospholipid composition of patient VLDL, LDL, HDL was also altered; the amount of phosphatidylcholine was increased and that of lysophosphatidylcholine decreased. 4. The saturated and monounsaturated fatty acyl content of cholesteryl esters in patient lipoproteins was also significantly increased, and diunsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acyl content was decreased. 5. When isolated lipoproteins were examined as negatively stained preparations by electron microscopy, the morphology of SM patient LDL was normal but the HDL fraction was abnormal and showed marked heterogeneity of size with the presence of occasional discoidal particles which resembled nascent HDL